Protective Mouthguard

ABSTRACT

A protective mouthguard has an upper arch or upper mouthguard section with a plurality of alveoli configured to accept the user&#39;s upper incisors, canines and at least the first upper molars. The mouthguard has a lower arch or lower mouthguard section with dual lateral wing sections, each wing section having a plurality of alveoli configured to accept only the user&#39;s lower bicuspids and at least the first upper molars. The user&#39;s lower incisors, canines, and second molars remain uncovered, The mouthguard provides a custom designed dual arch which minimizes and even prevents lateral displacement of the lower jaw.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a variety of protective mouthguards used by athletes which are designed to absorb and dissipate impact forces exerted on the teeth, lower jaw (the mandible) and upper jaw (the maxilla). Most such mouthguards take the form of a saddle, substantially U-shaped in configuration, and of some type of channel cross-section made of a tough, resilient thermoplastic resin. This mouthguard, commonly known as a single arch guard, fits over one set of teeth, in most cases the upper set, and is therefore specifically designed to prevent damage to the user's upper dentition.

This single arch upper mouthguard does not stabilize the upper and lower jaws. In fact, the smooth under surface of the single arch mouthguard actually facilitates lateral movement of the lower jaw, which leads to greater displacement between the lower jaw and the cranial base. Illustrative evidence exists that a blow to the jaw increases the likelihood of an individual being rendered unconscious.

Moreover, most current mouthguards are either manufactured and sold as universal or off the shelf stock items or they are individually molded to have upper jaw and teeth direct contact. Of course, stock mouthguards are usually ill-fitting and fail to provide even the most minimum. protection. Individually molded mouthguards, sometimes referred to as “boil and bite” guards, are made of a material which has a softening point which approximates boiling water temperature. This permits the mouthguard to be placed in boiling water and then custom molded to the user's dentition. However, this mold driven procedure often does not result in the precise fit necessary to fully protect the user. In addition, the material utilized for this type of mouthguard is not suited for absorbing and dissipating the high impact forces which are exerted on the mouthguard during strenuous, physical athletic activity. Significantly, this material is very susceptible to deformation and tearing while being used during athletic contact, and by the user's normal chewing and jaw and teeth movements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages and limitations of prior protective mouthguards, by providing a custom designed, dual arch mouthguard which minimizes and even prevents lateral displacement of the lower jaw. The mouthguard is particularly designed to stabilize the lower jaw with the upper jaw. The intention in stabilizing the lower jaw is to create a single moving unit with the rest of the cranial skeletal base when the jaw is impacted by an outside force. Stabilizing the mandible prevents the jaw from moving independent of the cranial base when impacted by a force generated by a blow to the jaw.

The protective mouthguard of the present invention comprises an upper arch or upper mouthguard section having a plurality of alveoli configured to accept the user's upper incisors, canines and at least the first upper molars. The mouthguard's lower arch or lower mouthguard section has dual lateral wing sections, each wing section having a plurality of alveoli configured to accept only the user's lower bicuspids and at least the first upper molars. The mouthguard is configured such that user's lower incisors, canines, and second molars remain uncovered.

The protective mouthguard of the invention is fabricated as follows. A mold or scan is taken of an individual's dentition and vestibule. A print is also taken of the lower jaw. From the scan and print, a mouthguard is designed and created that is customized to the individual's dentition and oral anatomy, including the individual's bite. The bite is registered such that the mandible is positioned 1-3 mm forward, so that the condyle is not seated in the fossa. This prevents the mandible from being pushed straight back into the cranial base. This would occur, for instance, from a straight blow, as opposed to a side blow, which produces lateral displacement. Unlike the typical, upper only mouthguard, the upper mouthguard section of the dual arch custom mouthguard is connected to the lower mouthguard section such that the mouthguard functions as a single unit to also prevent lateral displacement of the lower jaw and is open at its lower front area to facilitate snore effective breathing during use.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the protective mouthguard of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the protective mouthguard of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the protective mouthguard of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the protective mouthguard of the present invention, showing the placement of teeth within the mouthguard.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the protective mouthguard of the present invention, showing the placement of teeth within the mouthguard.

FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway elevation view of the protective mouthguard of the present invention, showing the positioning of the mouthguard in relation to the user's vestibule and gingival margin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Mouthguard 1 of the present invention is custom sized to a user's dentition, i.e. the configuration of the user's upper and lower incisors, canines, bicuspids, and molars.

Mouthguard 1 comprises upper mouthguard section 2 having mouthguard defining outer buccal wall 4 and interior wall 6. Buccal wall 4 extends to the height of the user's vestibule V and interior wall 6 extends to a height approximately equivalent to the user's gingival margin G. (See FIG. 6). A plurality of alveoli (cavities) 11-22, located between buccal wall 4 and interior wall 6, are configured to accept the average user's upper incisors, canines, bicuspids, and no more than the first or the first and second molars.

Lower mouthguard section 24 comprises dual lateral wing sections 26 and 28 extending downwardly from upper mouthguard section 2. Wing section 26 has downwardly extending flange elements 30 and 32. A plurality of alveoli 33, 34, and 35 are located in wing section 26, between flange elements 30 and 32. Wing section 28 has downwardly extending flange elements 36 and 38. A plurality of alveoli 39, 40, and 41 are located in wing section 28, between flange elements 36 and 38. Alveoli 33, 34, and 35 and 39, 40 and 41 are configured to accept only the average user's lower bicuspids and no more than the first or the first and second molars. Lower mouthguard section 24 is specifically configured so that none of the other lower teeth, i.e. the lower incisors, canines and rear molars, are covered.

Wing members 26 and 28 of lower mouthguard section 24 extend transversely from locations at alveoli 13 and 20 of upper mouthguard section 2, configured to accept each of the user's upper, forwardmost bicuspids, to locations at the distal ends of alveoli 11 and 22 of the upper mouthguard section, configured to accept the user's upper first or second molars, i.e. at least the first upper molars. The FIGs. show mouthguard 1 extending to the first upper molars.

Opening or gap 40 is bounded by wing sections 26 and 28 of lower mouthguard section 24 and buccal wall 4 of upper mouthguard section 2.

In application, the user's upper incisors a, b, e, and d, upper canines e and f, upper bicuspids g, h, i and j, and upper molars k and l are positioned within alveoli 11-22 of upper mouthguard section 2. Optionally, as discussed above, second upper molars m and n on each side of the user's dentition, can be positioned in alveoli of upper mouthguard section 2.

The user's lower bicuspids o, p, q, r and lower first molars s and t are positioned within alveoli 33, 34, 35, 39, 40 and 41 in lateral wing sections 26 and 28 of lower mouthguard section 24. Optionally, both first lower molars s and t and second lower molars u and v can be positioned within alveoli in wing sections which would then be extended rearward. Lower incisors w, x, y and z and canines c1 and c2 are specifically left uncovered.

When mouthguard 1 is properly positioned within the user's dentition, mouthguard 1 functions as a single, integral unit which prevents lateral displacement of the user's mandible, substantially minimizing or preventing the jaw from moving independently of the cranial base, when the user experiences a blow to the jaw. In addition, the unique design of the mouthguard results in opening 40 at the lower front area, which facilitates effective breathing by allowing more efficient oxygen intake. The extended height of buccal wall 4 to the height of vestibule V provides for greater retention of mouthguard 1. Interior wall 6 extends only to gingival margin G of the detention, and not onto the palate, for the sake of comfort and to prevent a gag response.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A protective mouthguard for stabilizing the lower jaw with the upper jaw of a user having a given vestibule height and a dentition comprising a gingival margin, upper and lower incisors, canines, bicuspids, and molars, said mouthguard comprising: an upper mouthguard section having a plurality of alveoli configured to accept the upper incisors, the upper canines, and at least the first upper molars; and a lower mouthguard section comprising dual lateral wing sections extending downwardly from the upper mouthguard section, each lateral wing section having a plurality of alveoli configured to accept only the lower bicuspids and at least the first lower molar, whereby upon the positioning of the mouthguard over the user's dentition, the upper mouthguard section covers the upper incisors, upper canines, and at least the first upper molars, and the lower mouthguard section covers only the lower bicuspids and at least the first lower molar, the lower incisors and canines remaining uncovered by the lower mouthguard section.
 2. The protective mouthguard as in claim 1 wherein the wing sections extend transversely from locations at the mouthguard alveoli which are configured to accept the forwardmost upper bicuspids in the dentition, to locations at the distal ends of the alveoli which are configured to accept at least the first molar.
 3. The protective mouthguard as in claim 1 wherein the upper mouthguard section further comprises a buccal wall extending to the height of the user's vestibule.
 4. The protective mouthguard as in claim 1 wherein each lateral wing section comprises two flange elements.
 5. The protective mouthguard as in claim 4 wherein the plurality of the alveoli in the lateral wing sections are located between the flange elements of each wing section.
 6. The protective mouthguard as in claim 1 further comprising a gap bounded by the wing sections and the upper mouthguard.
 7. The protective mouthguard as in claim 3 further comprising a gap bounded by the wing sections and the buccal wall.
 8. The protective mouthguard as in claim 1 wherein the upper mouthguard section further comprises an interior wall which extends upwardly to a height equivalent to the gingival margin of the dentition.
 9. The protective mouthguard as in claim 8 wherein the plurality of alveoli in the upper mouthguard section are located between the buccal wall and the interior wall.
 10. The protective mouthguard as in claim 2 wherein the upper mouthguard section further comprises a buccal wall extending to the height of the user's vestibule.
 11. The protective mouthguard as in claim 10 wherein the upper mouthguard section further comprises an interior wall which extends upwardly to a height equivalent to the gingival margin of the dentition.
 12. The protective mouthguard as in claim 11 further comprising a gap bounded by the wing sections and the buccal wall.
 13. The protective mouthguard as in claim 5 wherein the wing sections extend transversely from locations at the mouthguard alveoli which are configured to accept the forwardmost upper bicuspids in the dentition, to locations at the distal ends of the alveoli which are configured to accept at least the first molars.
 14. The protective mouthguard as in claim 13 wherein the upper mouthguard section further comprises a buccal wall extending to the height of the user's vestibule.
 15. The protective mouthguard as in claim 14 wherein the upper mouthguard section further comprises an interior wall which extends upwardly to a height equivalent to the gingival margin of the dentition.
 16. The protective mouthguard as in claim 15 further comprising a gap bounded by the wing sections and the buccal wall.
 17. The protective mouthguard as in claim 4 wherein the wing sections extend transversely from locations at the mouthguard alveoli which are configured to accept the forwardmost upper bicuspid in the dentition, to locations at the distal ends of the flange elements.
 18. The protective mouthguard as in claim 17 wherein the plurality of the alveoli in the lateral wing sections are located between the flange elements of each wing section.
 19. The protective mouthguard as in claim 17 further comprising a gap bounded by the wing sections and the buccal wall.
 20. The protective mouthguard as in claim 1 wherein each lateral wing section covers only the first lower molar. 